Cultivate Intamacy With Jehovah

Give Jehovah Your Best

In what other way may we draw close to God? "Honor Jehovah with your valuable things and with the firstfruits of all your produce," instructs the king. (Proverbs 3:9) To honor Jehovah means to show him high regard and to exalt him publicly by sharing and supporting the public proclamation of his name. The valuable things with which we honor Jehovah are our time, our talents, and our strength These must be the firstfruits-our very best. Should not the way we use our personal resources reflect our resolve to 'keep on seeking first the kingdom and God's righteousness? - Matthew 6:33.

Honoring Jehovah with our valuable things does not go unrewarded. "Then your stores of supply will be filled with plenty," assures Solomon, "and with new wine your own press vats will overflow." (Proverbs 3:10) While spiritual prosperity, generously using our resources to honor Jehovah brings rich blessings. The doing of God's will was sustaining "food" for Jesus. (John 4:34) Likewise, having a share in the preaching and disciple-making work that glorifies Jehovah nourishes us. If we persist in that work, our spiritual stores of supply will be filled with plenty. Our joy-symbolized by new wine-will overflow.

Do we not also look to Jehovah and pray to him for a sufficiency of material food for each day? (Matthew 6:11) Everything that we possess has, in fact, come to us from our loving heavenly Father. Jehovah will pour out further blessings to the extent that we use our valuable things to his praise. - 1 Corinthians 4:7.

Next time: Welcome Jehovah's Discipline

Watchtower, 2000